President Trump signed an executive order creating theNational Council for the American Worker, which is intended to provide a national strategy for training and retraining workers for high-demand industries.

USCIS issued a memo allowing its adjudicators to deny visa petitions without a requirement to try to correct the petition first, making it easier to deny petitions. The guidance originally required USCIS to issue a Notice to Appear to anyone who filed a visa that was not lawfully present at the time of application, but that requirement has been placed on hold temporarily. SeeGodfrey & Kahn’s articlefor the impact to employers.

On July 13, the DOL issued a field assistance bulletin addressing whether caregivers are independent contractors, but provides some guidance on how theDOL will view independent contractorssince the prior guidance was rescinded.

Abillintroduced in the House has bipartisan support to require workplace sexual harassment training; provide a confidential tip line to EEOC; and require publically-traded companies to report settlements to the SEC. Reada press releasefrom the sponsor, Rep. Lois Franke (D-FL).

Before the House started its August recess, it took up several healthcare related bills. Eleven different measures made it out of theWays & Means Committee, but onlytwo billsmade it out of the House. These measures would expand the way HSAs could be used. The bill delaying the Cadillac tax has not moved forward, but SHRM advocates for it to be delayed (or eliminated).

SHRM-backed Workflex in the 21st Century Act bill got a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions on July 24. Check outSHRM’s summary of testimonyfrom SHRM CEO Johnny C. Taylor.